If you dont mind about not being as competitive as possible, then fit risers if they make the bike feel more comfortable. But if you do want your bike to work as well as it possibly can, then take note of the fact than no one riding at WTC level uses risers.

For taller riders, the best possible option is to move the bar mounts forward, and failing that the bars can be moved forward of the 90 degree to the ground position thats best for most riders, but depending on the bend of the bars, this can mean extra strain on the wrists, so moving bar mounts forward 12mm tends to work better.

A trials bike should be set up with one thing in mind. What position should you be in to be "neutral" over the bike. How does a boxer stand, a weight lifter, a surfer or a ballerina? The neutral position is where you are able to react and move your body in order to maintain balance. If your sparring and wrestling, you will be legs bent, arms bent, ready to move left, right, up, down, laterally and diagonally and pivot. You are able to fully extend, absorb, rotate, flex and react. Try standing with your feet together and let someone push your shoulder laterally. You will take a large step in order to regain balance or fall over. Now spread your feet apart and let them push with both hands. You will extend and react to the opposing force. Maintain your balanced position.

Neutral athletic balanced stance, applies in all sports, even yard darts. So with that in mind, understand that by reducing your flexed balance position by requiring you stand taller over your center of gravity, you have made the task of balance very difficult because you gave up your balanced stance; with the risers. If you bought the trials bike to ride TRAILS, then heck yea get comfortable, otherwise it is or should be a hindrance to a balanced position. The bike goes crazy underneath you while the body maintains a neutral and quiet position. Riding in any bike is all about rhythm and flow. Got to tune the instrument to get good rhythm and you can tune a piano but you can't tune a fish......

I have a beta rev 3 that I use for trail riding. I fitted 2" rox risers set up to move the bars up about an 1" and forward about 1". It makes a very big difference to how long I can ride for (previously my lower back and hands would be killing me after 4 hrs or so riding). These risers are are the rubber mounted ones made for ATV's and work really well at dampening out the Betas high rev buzz on transport sections.

As a further heresy I'm considering fitting pivot pegs as they are so comfortable to stand on on my trail bike and adv bike - I'm sure that will get a few eye rolls as well from the purists.

A trials bike should be set up with one thing in mind. What position should you be in to be "neutral" over the bike. How does a boxer stand, a weight lifter, a surfer or a ballerina? The neutral position is where you are able to react and move your body in order to maintain balance. If your sparring and wrestling, you will be legs bent, arms bent, ready to move left, right, up, down, laterally and diagonally and pivot. You are able to fully extend, absorb, rotate, flex and react. Try standing with your feet together and let someone push your shoulder laterally. You will take a large step in order to regain balance or fall over. Now spread your feet apart and let them push with both hands. You will extend and react to the opposing force. Maintain your balanced position.

Neutral athletic balanced stance, applies in all sports, even yard darts. So with that in mind, understand that by reducing your flexed balance position by requiring you stand taller over your center of gravity, you have made the task of balance very difficult because you gave up your balanced stance; with the risers. If you bought the trials bike to ride TRAILS, then heck yea get comfortable, otherwise it is or should be a hindrance to a balanced position. The bike goes crazy underneath you while the body maintains a neutral and quiet position. Riding in any bike is all about rhythm and flow. Got to tune the instrument to get good rhythm and you can tune a piano but you can't tune a fish......

Try it and see is the best way to find out. Self guided discovery.

Click to expand...

Spot on.............fitting risers makes a bike pretty much useless for serious trials, but as its something thats very easy to do, is pretty popular with those in the "know"...........

I have a beta rev 3 that I use for trail riding. I fitted 2" rox risers set up to move the bars up about an 1" and forward about 1". It makes a very big difference to how long I can ride for (previously my lower back and hands would be killing me after 4 hrs or so riding). These risers are are the rubber mounted ones made for ATV's and work really well at dampening out the Betas high rev buzz on transport sections.

As a further heresy I'm considering fitting pivot pegs as they are so comfortable to stand on on my trail bike and adv bike - I'm sure that will get a few eye rolls as well from the purists.

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No eye roll here. For what you are using the bike for, it sounds great! Beta makes the long range tank/seat deal, are you considering it for the trail riding?

Very good AteamNM, that first paragraph was brilliant.
But then you got in to opinion and bias.

I'm 54 years old, 6ft 1, and 85 kg. For 15 years I've been a time-trial cyclist (think tucked-in, aero) I know quite a lot about making things fit and extracting the best bio-mechanical output from a given stance or position.

In moto bikes, as with push bikes, there is not a One-Size-Fits-All solution. They make bikes, and then it's up to the owner (or supplier there-of) to, make them fit to their body type, style of riding etc.

I don't think you're alone in thinking that everyone who ever saddled up a trials bike wants to be the next Tony Bou, but I also don't think you're in the majority.

You may well have a young and un-injured back, your knees are hopefully in good condition, hands and elbows all tip-top. Good for you, you go ahead and ride your bike your way. Meanwhile there are other people who aren't perfect young specimens, who cant ride round all day leaned forward with their hands not much higher than mid-thigh, who will benefit from some knowledgable help with bike set-up.

I believe this to be a friendly sport, and have certainly found this to be so locally, where help and advice are given generously.

DERISION OF THE NEW AND UNSKILLED, is on the list to become the next deadly sin.

Beware: the nooby you deride today, could be your tax inspector tomorrow

If you ride trials on a modern trials bike then your making it harder, especially on a tight off camber turn. A moto trials event allows you to ride, rest, stop, walk, drink a beer, whatever. Unless the event is like a Ute Cup, there should not be a large fatigue factor. Do you want to be comfortable riding to each section and then ride like crap in the section or ride a bit uncomfortable getting to the section and then be set up to ride the trials like a boss?

I also said ?

Try it and see is the best way to find out. Self guided discovery.

Click to expand...

I never once said that you can't put FFKKing ape hangers on your bike. I know some really old national riders and they school me and a few are over weight but mostly in good physical condition. And yes, I am a young little pup and can run triathlons. I have never wrecked or abused my body.

Note to self, if a valid learning questions is asked, do not reply.
Note to self, if a valid learning questions is asked, do not reply.
Note to self, if a valid learning questions is asked, do not reply.
Note to self, if a valid learning questions is asked, do not reply.
Note to self, if a valid learning questions is asked, do not reply.

I get the feeling that many riders fit ape risers, before actually trying to ride a bike with normal height bars for a reasonable amount of time? Risers tend to mean less weight on the front wheel, COG not quite right, and steering that feels vague and disconnected when compared to normal bars.